E-drums: could they be a common thing for small bands gigs?

[Orvillain]

The fact that a bunch of guys that primarily play guitar

I've played drums since 2008. In fact, I've played keys a lot longer - since 1996, if you want to get super technical. I've gigged in a few bands playing bass too.

If there's one thing I'd like you to stop doing, it is assuming that you know the details about everyone here. Because you clearly don't.

 

[Orvillain]

Most everyone else only hears the kick, bass and vocals.

This is a stupid statement. Ears don't filter based on instrument classification.

 

[Orvillain]

A natural sounding drum kit has a musical value and we can't trade that with a bit of clarity and control - in any - just because FOH mix might be "better".

10000% this.

That e-kit live performance you posted was exemplary of a lot of the problems with using an e-kit. The fact that OneEng liked it speaks volumes.

 

[OneEng]

I've played drums since 2008. In fact, I've played keys a lot longer - since 1996, if you want to get super technical. I've gigged in a few bands playing bass too.

If there's one thing I'd like you to stop doing, it is assuming that you know the details about everyone here. Because you clearly don't.

... and yet you haven't the vaguest clue about anything related to live sound at FOH.

This is a stupid statement. Ears don't filter based on instrument classification.

I'd like you to quit making stupid statements period, but I realize this is your normal mode of operation.

People are more sensitive to HF. We hear it better, and it hurts our ears at a lower SPL than LF. As a result, what sounds "good" to most people (you and your ilk being the exception) is a band re-enforced with good low end and de-emphasized high end. This is particularly true as you raise the volume. The mix requires less and less HF to sound "balanced" to our ears.

The kick, bass and vocals make up the meat and potatoes of the music. Everything else is mostly frosting. Of course, this is a generalization as there are definitely different types of music where some instruments stand out more than others. With Metal, the guitar is much more present in the mix than most other types of music. I'd still argue that the drums are what carries most metal songs.

 

[Orvillain]

... and yet you haven't the vaguest clue about anything related to live sound at FOH.

This doesn't get any truer the more you say it, fella.

I'd like you to quit making stupid statements period, but I realize this is your normal mode of operation.

My judgement of your statement being stupid is based on factual evidence and reasoning. Your judgement of me making stupid statements is just based on prejudice and butthurtedness.

People are more sensitive to HF. We hear it better, and it hurts our ears at a lower SPL than LF. As a result, what sounds "good" to most people (you and your ilk being the exception) is a band re-enforced with good low end and de-emphasized high end. This is particularly true as you raise the volume. The mix requires less and less HF to sound "balanced" to our ears.

I see what you're getting at. But unfortunately you're trying to apply an objective measurement to a subjective phenomenon, and you're trying to position your own subjective experiences as the gold standard. They are not.

While it is true that there is a physiological tendency to be more sensitive to HF, this actually is not universally true. So please, make all of the "as a general rule" statements as you like. But please don't speak in absolutes. You Sithlord wannabe.

The kick, bass and vocals make up the meat and potatoes of the music. Everything else is mostly frosting. Of course, this is a generalization as there are definitely different types of music where some instruments stand out more than others. With Metal, the guitar is much more present in the mix than most other types of music. I'd still argue that the drums are what carries most metal songs.

I'd argue that for a lot of hard-rock and metal, remove any element, and the whole thing falls apart. Which is not always true for other genres. Remove the Kenny G from jazz, and it gets better.

 

[DrewJD82]

I've played drums since 2008. In fact, I've played keys a lot longer - since 1996, if you want to get super technical. I've gigged in a few bands playing bass too.

If there's one thing I'd like you to stop doing, it is assuming that you know the details about everyone here. Because you clearly don't.

Yeah, I started playing drums seriously about 3 years after I picked up a guitar in 1997 due to my Dream Theater fanaticism/working in a drum store/having a couple amazing teachers showing me how to play. While it’s been a decade since I’ve played drums on a regular/daily basis, there’s been several points in the 20 years I was playing them regularly where I felt I was a better drummer than I was a guitarist or vocalist and to this day they’re my favorite instrument to play, I don’t see that ever changing.

Now I just don’t tell people I play, wait until I’ve been in the band a little while and sheepishly ask if I can play the drums, act like I don’t know how to hold the sticks then sit down and start playing the “Lateralus” groove in the middle section.

When I say I write my drum tracks, I don’t mean I assemble pre-made MIDI files, I actually come up with the parts and translate what I know into a piano roll. When I’m really, really lazy, I’ll steal a fill from a MIDI file, but that’s pretty rare because this is the only way I can “play” drums at this point.

 

[Jarick]

It's weird having not played the drums in so long. That used to be my whole identity...I wanted to be the best drummer in my high school, and it was my whole life's passion. Now I haven't touched a proper acoustic kit in over a decade. The brain and body remembers the thousands of hours of woodshedding but it hasn't been used in forever.

 

[OneEng]

It's weird having not played the drums in so long. That used to be my whole identity...I wanted to be the best drummer in my high school, and it was my whole life's passion. Now I haven't touched a proper acoustic kit in over a decade. The brain and body remembers the thousands of hours of woodshedding but it hasn't been used in forever.

Perhaps it is just like riding a bicycle .

 

[EOengineer]

Can’t wait for the next 40+ thread where everyone disagrees with one guy.

Peanut butter pizza is the the only pizza LETS FIGHT TO THE DEATH!

(Note - this is sarcasm)

I've played drums since 2008. In fact, I've played keys a lot longer - since 1996, if you want to get super technical. I've gigged in a few bands playing bass too.

If there's one thing I'd like you to stop doing, it is assuming that you know the details about everyone here. Because you clearly don't.

A select few of us know skin flute is where you’re most proficient.

 

[HotRats]

It's weird having not played the drums in so long. That used to be my whole identity...I wanted to be the best drummer in my high school, and it was my whole life's passion. Now I haven't touched a proper acoustic kit in over a decade. The brain and body remembers the thousands of hours of woodshedding but it hasn't been used in forever.

I've been playing drums since I was 15 when I've set up the rehearsal room in our basement.

At the time I used to play for fun or to record demo songs for my band.

Unfortunately we moved to another house 12 years later and since then I've played drums sporadically.

I love drums. They are the coolest instrument ever.

 

[paisleywookiee]

Unfortunately we moved to another house 12 years later and since then I've played drums sporadically

You know what you should get?

An eKit.

 

[bucephalus]

When OneEng and EOengineer post next to each other it messes with my mind a little.

 

[HotRats]

You know what you should get?

An eKit.